Mathematical Modelling Success

Another team from Victoria University of Wellington has successfully competed this year in the Mathematical Contest in Modelling (MCM. The MCM is a unique annual international contest, in which University undergraduates try to solve real-world problems posted on the internet, in an intensive four-day team brainstorming session.

Deborah Crook, Tim Cox, and Jonathan Stephenson, of the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, are delighted with their "Honourable Mention" grade for their report on the best procedures for quickly boarding and deboarding airplanes of various sizes. This grade puts them in the top 40% of competing teams. They were mentored by A/Prof Mark McGuinness and Prof Matt Visser.

A total of 949 teams submitted reports, from USA, China, UK, Korea, South Africa, Ireland, Jamaica, Finland, Canada, Singapore, Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand. The honourable students from Victoria University worked day and night, considering how people behave (or misbehave) when boarding or leaving an airplane. Computer simulations helped them to decide whether passengers should board the window seats first, or the back of the plane first. In four intensive days and nights, they combined their skills in mathematics, physics, computing, communicating and writing, culminating in the submission of their highly-ranked report.